ABSTRACT

Foodborne illnesses caused by viral contamination of food are a significant burden to public health. While foodborne illness is typically attributed to noroviruses, rotaviruses, and hepatitis A and E viruses 1 , astroviruses (AstVs) are now recognized as a leading contaminant of food and water sources. AstV infections are generally self-limiting, but can be associated with severe and systemic complications such as spread to extraintestinal sites (e.g., brain) in immunocompromised individuals. These adverse effects, as well as the extraordinary stability of the AstV particle, underscore the importance of understanding AstV pathogenesis and developing improved diagnostic techniques to prevent future outbreaks of foodborne gastroenteritis.